Steps to
Spiritual Maturity: Growing up in Christ

What does it
take to grow up and become spiritually mature? Why do some
Christians not grow as they should?

God's word presents steps we
can take toward growth and spiritual maturity by Bible study,
patience, and diligent practice of good works.

Introduction:

People understand the concept of growth in the physical
development of humans, and we know why it is important.

Babies are immature physically and mentally, but we expect
them to develop. If they don't, there is a problem.

My best buddy in high school did not grow and might have been
nearly a midget. But in his senior year, doctors gave him shots
to make him grow.

Spiritual growth is a similar concept but is far more
important.

Growth is development or improvement toward a goal called
"maturity" (or, in the Bible, "perfection").
When one is "born again" as a child of God, he is
spiritually immature. As time passes, he should develop the
qualities or abilities which the Bible says characterize the
mature. A congregation matures as individual members mature.

Many Scriptures describe the need to grow and mature
spiritually:

Ephesians 4:14,15 - Be no longer children, but grow up in
Christ.

2 Peter 3:18 - but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 - The Thessalonians grew exceedingly in
faith.

Philippians 1:9 - Paul prayed for their love to abound more
and more.

Many problems result when members fail to grow: some go back
to the world, others cause strife because of ignorance or become
stumblingblocks because of irregular attendance, worldliness, or
indifference.

The purpose of this lesson is to study the steps each
Christian should take to grow spiritually.

Just as a baby needs to do certain things to grow physically,
so Christians need certain kinds of activities to grow
spiritually. When members don't grow, it is because they lack one
or more of these.

I. A DESIRE TO GROW

A. We Will Never Grow Unless We Want to Grow

In the physical realm, children WANT to grow.

"I want to grow up to be just like Mommy/Daddy/Michael
Jordan..." "I can't wait till I'm 16 so I can drive."

Parents and kids become so excited when kids learn something
new - the first step, first word, draw picture, etc. Everyone
wants them to develop new abilities.

Parents sometimes use this to encourage children. When Tim was
small, he wanted to drink milk because Bill Buckner (Cubs' first
baseman) advertised it.

Likewise, in spiritual matters, Christians must WANT to
grow.

1 Peter 2:2 - Desire the pure milk of the word, that you may
grow thereby.

Some seem to like being spiritual babies. They don't want to
grow. It's easy to be a baby - no responsibility. Others feed
you, clothe you, change your diaper. In the church, you don't
have to teach, rebuke sin, or do work. It's a free ride!

But being a baby is not the goal of life. We are born babies
so we can grow up and be productive and useful. Likewise, we are
born again, so we can become mature Christians, actively serving
the Lord.

One of the conditions for becoming a child of God is
REPENTANCE. One must determine to turn from sin and GO TO WORK in
God's vineyard. Then one must bring forth the FRUITS of
repentance. This will lead us to grow and improve in God's work.
Otherwise, we have not accomplished our purpose for becoming
children of God.

1 Peter 2:21 - Jesus set an example for us, and we should
follow in His steps. We should ask ourselves, "Don't I want
to grow up to be spiritually strong like Jesus?"

B. We Must Maintain This Desire to Grow.

Some members who once wanted to grow, may lose that desire.

They may start off on fire for the Lord, but lose their zeal.
They develop a spirit of indifference or negligence.

Others develop a level of maturity and stagnate. They are
satisfied, thinking no more growth is needed.

The Scriptures teach that growth is always needed.

Philippians 3:12-14 - Even Paul, as mature as he was, did not
consider himself to have achieved perfection (maturity) such that
he could cease striving to improve. He forgot past achievements (and
failures) and pressed on to greater accomplishments.

Matthew 26:31-35 - Peter thought he had reached a level where
he would never deny Jesus. But that very night he denied Him
three times.

1 Corinthians 10:12 - Therefore let him who thinks he stands
take heed lest he fall. Christians never reach the point we are
so mature that we cannot fall.

One of the main reasons Christians do not grow is that they do
not see the NEED for growing. They have no desire to work and
serve to the full extent of their ability. When people develop a
burning hunger and thirst to work for the Lord, then they will
develop the other steps they need to grow.

Do you have that burning desire to accomplish more for the
Lord? Have you set specific goals of work you want to accomplish
for God, improvements to make, new levels to reach?

II. NOURISHMENT

A. We Need Spiritual Food from God's Word.

A child cannot grow physically without proper food.

Good parents are concerned about proper nutrition. They want
children to eat what is good, not bad for them. We are touched by
pictures of children starving due to poverty.

Most children WANT nourishment. Babies cry for food. Once as a
child I got so hungry I cried, and my mother felt really bad.

Even adults know we need food, and don't like to go long
without it. We want it every day, regularly, several times a day.

Likewise spiritually we cannot grow without feeding on
God's Word.

1 Peter 2:2 - As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the
word, that you may grow thereby.

Matthew 4:4 - Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

[Eph. 4:15; Matt. 5:6]

B. To Get This Nourishment, We Must Study the
Bible and Attend Church Meetings.

Scriptures show the need for regular nourishment.

Hebrews 5:11-14 - Christians were rebuked for not growing as
they should have, because they had not studied. Time and again
members fall away or are spiritual midgets because they do not
eat properly.

Acts 17:11 - Bereans were able to determine whether truth was
taught because they searched the Scriptures DAILY. We need
REGULAR nourishment.

Psalm 1:1,2 - Meditate on God's word day and night. Children
and adults need physical food regularly, and get very upset
without it. But are we content to go for days at a time without
feeding on God's word? [119:47,48,95-99; Josh 1:8]

Do we make use of the opportunities the church provides for
nourishment? I never ceased to be amazed when the church provides
a spiritual feast, and members choose to do other things. How
often do we miss the regular meals provided for our bellies?

Take this test to check your spiritual nourishment.

How much time did you spend this week watching TV?

How much time watching sports or entertainment, or reading the
paper, magazines, etc.?

How much time did you spend on some hobby or outside interest,
that may not be immoral but is not necessary?

How many hours did you spend studying your Bible?

How many services of the church did you attend? How many did
you miss that you could have attended?

Which do you nourish the best: your spirit or your body? Are
you feeding your mind on God's word or pleasures?

A. Exercise and Practice Are Essential to
Physical Development.

Athletes & musicians know they must exercise and
practice to improve.

Athletes run, lift weights, and practice hour after hour in
order to grow strong and develop endurance.

Illustration: A man once had an apartment next to a
professional cello player. He thought it must be exciting to play
in an orchestra. Then he listened as the man practiced the
scales, exercises, and songs endlessly.

Children practice skills over and over to learn them.

Children learning to walk try again and again. They are proud
to learn a new word, then they use it till they drive you crazy!
They want to play the same thing over and over: play the same
tape recording, put the clothes on a doll.

Parents encourage children to repeat what they must learn:
drill math facts, spelling, reading, piano. They get tired, but
we encourage them because that's how they learn.

"Practice makes perfect" - or at least it promotes
improvement.

B. Exercise and Practice Are Essential to
Spiritual Growth.

Scriptures:

Hebrews 5:14 - Those who are of full age, by reason of use
have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Growth
requires exercise as well as nourishment.

1 Timothy 4:7 - Exercise yourself toward godliness.

Like children, athletes, and musicians, we must work again and
again at applying Bible principles to become effective in the
Lord's work.

Applications:

To learn to TEACH, we must do it repeatedly: teach your
children, home studies, Bible classes, preach sermons, again and
again.

To learn to LEAD SINGING, practice songs at home, sing with
your family, lead during church meetings over and over.

To understand the BIBLE, study it again and again, talk to
others, drill yourself, memorize. Get in and dig.

To learn to PRAY, do it over and over.

Kids may not be good at activities at first, but parents
encourage them to do it over and over. Likewise, older members
must encourage the newer ones to use their talents. They may not
be skilled at first, but they learn by doing.

We need to encourage teachers, preachers, and song leaders.
Don't complain. Surely don't stay home. They need the practice!

IV. TIME AND PATIENCE

By definition, growth requires TIME. It is progress and
development as time passes. Several important lessons follow:

A. Don't Expect to Reach Your Goal Overnight.

Children do not become full-grown instantaneously.

At birth they are so small you can hold them in a little
basket. Soon they are outgrowing new clothes every month.
Eventually they can wear their parents' clothes or even larger.
But it takes time.

Sometimes children become impatient. "I can't wait till
I'm 18 (or 21)." We say, "Take your time. It will come
soon enough." Time passes and, sure enough, what they were
waiting for has come and gone, and they're looking back wondering
how the time passed so fast!

Likewise spiritually, do not expect maturity overnight.

James 1:4 - To become perfect and mature (entire), lacking
nothing, we must have patience.

Some new-born Christians want to know everything and do
everything right away. They may not be willing to take the TIME
to STUDY and DEVELOP ability. Yet they want to be just like the
mature members - and want other members to treat them with the
same respect that they do mature members - before they have taken
time to grow.

Sometimes older members are impatient with new members. We
don't understand why new converts have trouble with some basic
concepts. Then sometimes these new members explain, "I never
was really taught what the BIBLE said before." They have no
background in the Scriptures, and it takes TIME to grow.

Remember that people who may be mature today did not get that
way overnight. It took years of study and practice. And new
converts will not become mature overnight. It will take time.

New members should not get discouraged and give up. Older
members should not be impatient or overly demanding. Remember how
our children took time to grow, and how we had to show patience
with their immature ways as they grew. But growth will come as
long as people are trying and we give them time.

B. Don't Become Discouraged by Mistakes and
Rebukes.

Children make many mistakes and must often be told they
are wrong.

How often does a child fall while learning to walk? They fall
again and again, gathering bumps and bruises. They spill their
milk, don't hold their spoon properly, fall off their bikes, and
come to bat in the bottom of the ninth with the winning run in
scoring position and strike out.

Parents are continually correcting, instructing, and
punishing, till we almost feel sorry for the kids. Growing up is
tough!

If kids are going to become mature, they have to keep going in
spite of mistakes and rebukes. And someday they will look back on
their own childish mistakes and just smile.

Likewise, new converts will make many mistakes and must
often be told they are wrong.

Some of the greatest Bible characters committed terrible
errors and had to be rebuked.

* Moses made excuses when God called him to lead Israel out of
bondage.

* David committed adultery with Bathsheeba and was rebuked by
Nathan.

* Peter denied Jesus three times.

* Paul persecuted Christians before his conversion.

* Thomas doubted Jesus' resurrection.

* All the apostles forsook Jesus when He was arrested and
crucified.

Matthew 16:21-23 - Shortly after he had confessed Jesus and
been highly praised (v15-18), Peter contradicted Jesus and was
severely rebuked.

Yet all of these are remembered as some of God's greatest
servants.

Great servants are not people who live without ever sinning,
but people who learn from their mistakes and go on to serve God
faithfully.

Judas betrayed Jesus and is remembered as a traitor. Peter
denied Jesus three times and is remembered as a great apostle.
What is the difference? Judas, after betraying Jesus, hung
himself. Peter, after denying Jesus, repented and went to work
preaching the gospel.

Proverbs 29:1 - A person is destroyed, not simply because he
errs, but because he becomes stubborn when he is rebuked and will
not repent. What is needed is repentance and patience to learn to
do right.

Conclusion

The story is told of a little boy who fell out of bed. Asked
what happened, he said, "I guess I just stayed too close to
the gettin'-in place." That is exactly why many people fall
away from God after their conversion - they stay too close to the
"gettin'-in" place and do not grow to maturity.

It is no shame to be a baby, if you were born a few months ago.
But if a person has been a child of God for several years and has
not grown, he has a problem.

Everyone needs to grow as a Christian, and everyone can grow,
if he/she simply applies the Bible principles of growth.

Note: If you wish to study further about topics mentioned in
this lesson, please note the links listed below.